Skylight structure.



W. F. PLASS.

SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26; 1916.

1,209,491. Patented 116111111916.

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WILLIAM F. PLASS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sKYLiGn'T' STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 19, 1916.

Application led May 26, 1916. Serial No. 99,988.

To all whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. PLAss, a citizen of the United States, residing at N ew York, in the County of N ew `York and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements 1in Skylifght Structures, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to skylight structures including troughshaped rafters formed by channeled bars, glass-supporting means carried by said rafters and including stirrups secured in the 'channels of the rafters and projecting above the same, and wrapped bars engagedfwith said stir-rups and presenting water-tight seats on which. inclined sheets or lights of glass bear, the adjacent edges of the glass lights being above thetroughs formed by the rafters so that waterwhich may leak between the said edges is conducted to and `discharged from the lower ends of the rafters, the wrapped bars preventingv the water from passing laterally from the spaces over the rafters.

The objects of the invention are: first, to provide improved means for packing the glass-supporting bars and for confining the packing in place; secondly, to provide improved means for permitting vthe escape of water from the lower ends of the rafters and at the same time excluding wind, rain and snow therefrom.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe 'and claim. p

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 represents 4a vertical sectional View of `a portion of a skylight structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a. section on line 2'-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents an enlargement of a portion lof Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a section on linele-l .of Fig. 1.

The saine reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the views.

in the drawings, 12 represents an inclined rafter composed of"a U-bar forming a channel and constituting one of a pluralityof! duplicate rafters, which may be supported at their upper ends by any suitable means forming therewith a hip and ridge, and at their lower ends by a suitable curb 13, which may be of either metal or wood construction, the curb shown by Fig. 2 being of metal.

The means for attaching the rafters to their supports form no part of the present invention, and therefore do not require description, it being sulicient to say thatthe lower ends of the rafters preferably overhang the means supporting the same, as indicated by Fig. 1, so that water escaping from the lower ends of the rafters is discharged outside the supporting means.

Each rafter is provided with a series of stirrups 14 secured in the channels of the rafters by suitable means such as screws 15. Each stirrup has an upwardly projecting post or bolt 1G forming a part of the means hereinafter described for holding down lights or sheets of glass 17. ,In the upper edge of each stirrup and at opposite sides of the posts 1G are formedA two vertically elongated slots 18,v the vertical sides of which are preferablyparallel. Each rafter is provided with stirrups of different heights, as indicated by Fig. 1, the stirrups at the lowerend portion of the rafter being relatively low, while those farther from the lower end are higher, the number of different sizes or heights depending on the length of the rafter `and the number of lights of glassf employed, the higher stirrups supporting the lower ends of the lights of glass overlapping and spaced from the upper ends of the lights supported by the lower stirrups.

The lights 17 are directly supported by steel bars 2O of oblong form in cross section and surfaced or incased insheet lead. A sheet 21 of lead of a length corresponding to the length of 'a bar 20 is wrapped about the bar, as indicated by Fig. 3, and is so disposed that the wrapped bar lits snugly in the slots 18, so that the lead wrapping is firmly secured between the surfaces of the bar and the walls of the slot. The portion of the lead wrapping extending across the upper edge of the bar 20 forms a compressible or ductile seat for a light of glass 17, the under surface of the glass and the lead wrapping forming a water-tight joint which prevents water entering between the adjacent edges of the two lights of glass, spaced apart as shown by Fig. 2, from creeping along the under sides 'of the glass lights. The space between adjacent edges of the glass lights is directly over a trough of the firmly secured in place when the wrapped bar is inserted in the slots, no other fastening of the wrapping being required. r1`he lights 17 are held down upon the bar 20 by sheet metal caps 22, through which the posts 1G pass, and nuts 23 secured upon the upper ends of said posts and confining said caps; rlhe space between the lower end portions of the higher lights of glass and the upper end portions of the lower lights is closed by a sheet metal flashing 24C, as indicated by Fig. 1.

26 represents a sheet metal apron which extends across the open lower ends of the rafters and is spaced therefrom, as indicated by Fig. 1, said apron being bent to form an inwardly projecting flange 27 at its lower edge, projecting under the lower end of the rafter and suitably engaged with the curb 13. The apron 26 and flange 27 form a transverse main gutter which eX- tends across the lower ends of all the rafters and is provided'opposite the lower end of each rafter with a weep-hole or water outlet 29 for the escape of water discharged from the rafters.

rl`he lower ends of the rafters project outwardly from the outer edge of the curb to discharge water outside of said outer edge. The bottom of the gutter formed by the flange 27 projects outwardly from the rafters and from the outer edge of the curb, so that the outer portion of said bottom forms a wide overhang outside the curb permitting the location of relatively large weep-holes or outlets 29 entirely outside the curb. The relatively large size of these outlets, while permitting a suitably rapid escape of water from the gutter, is liable to admit rain and snow, driven upwardly by wind, to the gutter and rafters. To overcome this objection l attach to the overhanging portion of the flange under each outlet29 a baflie hood, which has a bottom 30 joined to the outer portion of the flange 27, and sloping downwardly therefrom and'inwardly toward the curb, as shown by Fig. 1, and sides 30a connecting said bottom with the fiange, the open inner end of the hood facing the curb and being in relatively close` proximity thereto, only sufficient space being left between said mouth and the curb to allow the escape of water. Upwardly directed wind impinging on the inclined bottom of the hood is deflected thereby outwardly from the curb, and cannot carry appreciable quantities of rain and snow Vinto the mouth of the hood. f

The vertical or body portion of the apron 26 has an extension at its upper edge forming a supplemental over-hanging gutter 32, the outerside of which isk formed to bear on the lower ends of the lower lights of glass. The outer and inner sides of the supplemental gutter extend downwardly and form an open channel below the lights of glass providing for the free escape of water which may find its way between the lower end portions of adjacent edges of said lights. The bottom of said supplemental gutter is provided with weep-holes or water outlets 33, which discharge water outside the main gutter above described.

It will be understood that structural features represented by the drawing and not referred to herein are so well known that they require no description. Y

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A skylight structure comprising inclined channel rafters forming troughs, stirrups secured in the channels of said rafters and provided with bar-receiving slots, and glass-supporting bars lprovided with sheet-lead wrappings, the wrapped bars being inserted in and closely fitting said slots so that the wrappings are confined between the bars and the walls of the slots, portions of said wrappings projecting above the stirrups and forming compressible liquid-tight seats for lights of glass Vsupported by said bars.

2. A skylight structure comprising inclined channeled rafters forming troughs, stirrups secured in the channels of said rafters and provided with vertically elongated slots, and glass-supporting bars, oblong in cross section, and provided with sheet lead wrappings, the wrapped bars being inserted in and closely fitting said slots so that the wrappings are confined between the bars and the walls ofthe slots, portions of said wrappings projecting above the stirrups and forming compressible liquidtight seats for lights of glass supported by said bars.

In testimony whereof l have affixed my signature.

. WILLIAM F. PLASS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

